Supernatural 13×10 gave us a backdoor pilot for Wayward Sisters, a parallel universe, and a whole lot of butt-kicking

When we last left Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) in the midseason finale of Supernatural, their future looked bleak. Extremely bleak. They were separated from Jack (Alexander Calvert) and Kaia (Yadira Guevara-Prip) and stranded in a parallel universe called “the Bad Place” by Kaia. Back on the Winchesters’ home Earth, Jody (Kim Rhodes) began organizing a search party to find the missing brothers. In addition to Claire (Kathryn Newton), Alex (Katherine Ramdeen), and Patience (Clark Backo), the group of women soon included Kaia and Donna (Briana Buckmaster). The episode ended with Sam and Dean saved, Claire making a deadly vow, and a large cliffhanger that completely changes what we thought we knew.

What makes “Wayward Sisters” stand out, other than the fact that the majority of the episode isn’t focused on Sam and Dean, is that it was written and filmed as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series with the same name. Many of the characters had been introduced and developed long before the concept for the show was pitched. Other characters, such as Kaia and Patience, were introduced this season to help viewers get to know them.

RELATED | Supernatural Roundtable 13×09 “The Bad Place”

The plot for the episode was fairly straightforward: group up and go rescue Sam and Dean. But given that this is Supernatural and nothing goes according to plan, the sisters ran into numerous creatures from the Bad Place that escaped to our Earth through the rift (or were they invading?). This forced the newly assembled group to quickly learn how to work together, and in the case of Patience, learn how to use a gun in about fifteen seconds. It wasn’t all action and witty dialogue even if there was a lot of both. The histories of all of the sisters are heavy ones and several of them started bonding over scars, war stories, or similar backgrounds.

The backdoor pilot for “Wayward Sisters” finally arrived this week, and it was really worth the wait. But don’t just take our word for it. See what our group of Supernatural fans thought of the episode below in this week’s roundtable!

Mery (@Sasstiel_) – Italian fangirl maybe a little too obsessed with Supernatural.

Cat Bow (@Pathryn34) – Wife and mother who tries to be loving and kind, but traffic…

Destiny (@cuddlydean24) – A business student that loves watching TV and listening to music

Lena (@lenastiel) – Hopeful optimist and lover of peanut butter who is passionate about Supernatural and its amazing cast members.

Linda (@devilsinhiding) – A fan that is a bit too emotionally attached to the characters

Lindsay (@lindieface) – Beleaguered grad student, unrepentant fangirl, whiskey aficionado

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1. Claire is keeping her own hunting journal of some sort. Do you think using her to narrate Wayward Sisters on occasion like she did at the end of the episode would be effective?

Mery (@Sasstiel_): I like the idea of a narrative voice at the end and the beginning of every season/midseason premiere and finale of every Wayward Sister season if we get lucky enough for it to be renewed. Kinda like the Then and Now and The road so far of Supernatural.

Cat Bow (@Pathryn34): I loved that she was journaling! And I think it was an effective way to end this episode, but, if it went to series, I would want to see the other women’s journal entries. I think this would be a great way to know them better. Plus, it would make it seem more an ensemble show.

Destiny (@cuddlydean24): It would absolutely be effective. Claire is an interesting character. I think knowing her thoughts would be interesting.

Lena (@lenastiel): I think Claire’s hunting journal is more of a homage to John’s hunting journal which was inherited by Dean and Sam. It’s a nice little tidbit. I really love when we’re able to clearly see the attention they put on small details. Using the journal as a mean of narration at the end is surprisingly nice, refreshingly different from the usual Supernatural episodes. I think it’s quite effective given the circumstances.

Linda (@devilsinhiding): I feel that it would be effective on some occasions. What she she at the end of the episode was powerful and you can really feel what she was saying. She could open up and close the episodes. It has a nice touch and I hope they will do that.

Lindsay (@lindieface): I think the narration is a cool touch – it provides a framework for the show and a definite voice, though it would also be really cool to have a different character narrate every week. That would allow us to get in the heads of all our central characters.

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2. Patience originally thought that she had a vision of Claire’s death but she appears to have misinterpreted it. Did she misinterpret the vision or was Kaia able to actually change events to save Claire?

Mery: I think she misinterpreted it. The vision was a little confusing and she (and consequently us) didn’t see where the spear ended up and the way Claire and Jody clung to each other could have been interpreted as Claire being stabbed.

Cat Bow: Oooh!! That is an interesting question. We have seen that people can alter what she sees. But, I think she misinterpreted it. Claire, even in her vision wasn’t bleeding. I think it taught her that she can be wrong. That her visions aren’t always what they seem. She is fairly new and unpracticed at being a psychic. So mistakes are understandable. I think this will be something that she has to comes to terms with. Like Claire will have to come to terms with losing Kaia.

Destiny: I think Patience misinterpreted the vision. The way she saw Claire in the vision stayed the same so I do not think the events were changed.

Lena: I don’t think Patience misinterpreted the vision. Claire would have been dead without any doubt without Kaia interfering at the last second. So yes, Kaia was able to actually change events because of her noble sacrifice. It fits nicely with the overarching theme of “free will” that the show has. You don’t have to be ruled by fate, as Castiel said. Kaia’s death is one big shocking twist (I hope it’s not permanent because hey, it’s Supernatural!).

Linda: It’s hard to say. I personally think Patience might have misinterpreted the vision because she was having a flashback to when the event happened and it looked very much alike. But then I suppose Kaia might have been able to change the events because they knew Claire was going to die and it all went down very quickly.

Lindsay: Oh, that’s interesting. I hadn’t considered that Kaia could influence the outcome, but it would be intriguing to see if there’s some overlap/pull between the powers of a dreamwalker and a psychic.

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3. The rift to the Bad Place closed and a new one opened in another location. Did the original breach actually close or did it move? Or were multiple breaches opened by Jack and Kaia originally? Do you think the Bad Place’s Kaia is capable of opening a breach on her own?

Mery: At first I thought it was the breach for the apocalyptic world where Jack and Mary are stuck, but then I saw that other Kaia coming out. The other Kaia gave me some magician vibe, so it can be possible that she moved it because I think that to open another one takes a lot of power, compared to Jack’s own.

Cat Bow: My belief is that perhaps killing yourself from a different universe in this multi-dimensional quantum construct can cause a tear to that world. After all, it is a house of cards. And somehow, the universes were connected enough to keep pulling our Kaia to it.

Destiny: The original breach did close. I don’t think Jack and Kaia would be powerful enough to open multiple breaches. I absolutely do think that the Bad Place’s Kaia was capable of opening it.

Lena: The rift seemed highly unstable since it blasted away Kaia, Jack, Sam, and Dean to different places. The original breach had never been opened fully anyway to allow Dean, Sam and Kaia to the apocalypse earth. I think without Jack’s powers, the rift could only stay in Kaia’s dream world a.k.a. the Bad Place. And it’s clearly unpredictable due to the instability of Kaia’s control of her own powers.

Linda: I believe that multiple breaches might have opened due to Jack and Kaia. The Bad Place door is closed as we saw it did when the Winchesters and Claire came back. I do think Bad Place Kaia is capable of opening a breach on her own as she is from a different universe and might have more control over her powers. It makes sense.

Lindsay: I feel like that particular rift is probably closed, but there may be multiple breaches open into the Bad Place. That being said, dark!Kaia may be more powerful and able to move between worlds on her own.

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4. That was quite a cliffhanger. What do you think is going on with the Bad Place’s Kaia? Is she connected to our Kaia in some way? Is our Kaia actually dead?

Mery: I think she’s after Claire and the Winchesters (because they’re the only people she saw in her universe) and I think she’s her own person. Regarding our Kaia, I hope she’s not dead. It’s Supernatural after all and we know nothing is really dead there.

Cat Bow: Ever since we saw the hooded figure in 13.09, I just had this feeling that it was AU Kaia. That is why Kaia was stuck dream-walking to just there. They had a profound connection that terrified our Kaia. I think she is curious about our world. She may have even dream-walked here the same way our Kaia dream walked there. And yes, they are connected. Sadly, I think our Kaia is gone. But, I hope I’m wrong.

Destiny: There are so many possibilities with that cliffhanger. I think the Bad Place’s Kaia is connected to our Kaia. I have a feeling the other Kaia is a part of Kaia. I hope our Kaia is not dead though.

Lena: Yes, it was. Haha. “Quite a cliffhanger” is an understatement. My personal theory about the Bad Place’s Kaia is that she is very much connected to our Kaia because I remember that the Bad Place is Kaia’s own creation (even though it was also an accidental creation due to the combination of Kaia’s worst fears, psyche and her uncontrollable powers). Maybe she is a version of our Kaia. Furthermore, nothing is truly dead in Supernatural. I have a strong belief that this is not the end of Kaia ‒ well, Robert Berens also tweeted “Kaia lives” so there’s that.

Linda: I think the Bad Place Kaia might be going after the Winchesters as they were meant to be dinner for the creature we saw at the end. I’m not sure if it was a dinosaur or Godzilla. She must be the one who is feeding the creature and wants to bring them back or even find a way to bring the creature to their universe. Perhaps they are connected, I’m not sure in what way. I do hope our Kaia is not dead. If she really is I hope Jack will bring her back.

Lindsay: I think she may turn out to be like dark!Charlie – two halves of the same whole character. I certainly don’t think Kaia is actually dead, though. That’s too easy. But maybe one arc when the series is picked up will be merging the two parts of Kaia? Joining her back together? I’m interested to see that play out.

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5. If Wayward Sisters becomes a series, it will have a relatively varied group of main characters. Based on what you’ve seen of the women so far, do you have a favorite among them?

Mery: I like all of them actually, but I always loved Donna, since her first episode.

Cat Bow: Donna is my favorite. I love how she can kick tail with a smile on her face. I love that she is so strong and able. I also appreciate her loyalty. Plus she is a great teacher. Alex is a close second though.

Destiny: I love all of the women. They all have unique qualities that make them interesting. My favorite is Donna. She’s a ray of sunshine. I love how she has a sense of humor even in the middle of hunting.

Lena: Kaia is quickly becoming my favorite alongside Donna. Kaia’s act of selflessness and heroism in the episode impressed me so much. Moreover, she pulled my heartstrings the moment she said, “You picked the wrong bait. I’m not the kind of girl folks come for. In this world, I don’t even rank a milk carton. No one is gonna come for me. I’m not white, rich, blonde. No one’s gonna fight for me. I don’t matter.” One episode after she said this, she sacrificed herself in the effort of saving the two guys who technically kidnapped and forced her to open the rift. This tragic hero reminds me so much of Castiel, who is my favorite character in the vanilla Supernatural.

Linda: My favorite character out of the group is Claire. We got the chance to watch her grow up and see her character development from season 4. I feel that she has grown a lot and seeing her hunting kills has improved very well. I can’t wait to see more of her in upcoming episodes.

Lindsay: I’m a sucker for Jody. She’s such an interesting, flawed, beautifully portrayed character and Kim Rhodes is a badass. That may be cheating since she isn’t a new character, but I like seeing people of all ages represented on the show.

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6. This episode had a lot of fun interaction between the sisters. Did you have a favorite scene or moment in “Wayward Sisters?”

Mery: When Donna gave Patience the rifle, like it wasn’t a big deal for a girl who never saw a weapon.

Cat Bow: There were so many great moments! It so hard to pick just one. There were the bonding moments, the fighting moments, and the crying moments. My favorite has to be Donna arriving and just bringing sunshine, hugs, and weapons with her.

Destiny: My favorite scene was the scene where Kaia and Claire compared scars. They can really relate to each other. Kathryn and Yadira have great chemistry too.

Lena: I love the flamethrower scene. Beginning with Jody and Donna being stuck inside a car while the monster was pounding from the outside (all the tension!), and then Claire’s casual use of flamethrowers, ending with an epic teamwork of the sisters getting into action. That’s definitely my favorite. Although, it’s a bit hard to choose since I also love the werewolf delivery scene because it’s so badass and funny! Heck, there are many scenes which are really good.

Linda: My favorite scene was when the characters were fighting the Bad Place monsters that came to their universe. It showed a strong teamwork and it was a very powerful scene. I can’t wait to see more from them. And I do hope the writers bring them back again.

Lindsay: You betcha. I really liked the bit between Jody and Patience, about whether or not she’s ever shot a gun. “Okey doke, here ya go” had me giggling, because Donna is just so sunny but also a tough killer. It’s a great contrast.

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7. Overall, what did you think of the backdoor pilot for Wayward Sisters? Should it become a series? Is there anything you’d change about it before it becomes a series?

Mery: I loved it, I couldn’t have asked for something better and I really hope it will be picked up for a real series. If I had it my way though, I’d like to see Charlie too in the show, too bad she died, and I’d bring our Kaia back.

Cat Bow: I absolutely loved it and want it to become a series so badly. Though I loved that Claire realized that she needs them, that they are stronger as a family, I really hope it’s not the Claire show. I love her, but I love all of them and want to see from their POV. That said, I am so super curious to find out how Claire feels when she finds out the person she vows to kill looks just like Kaia.

Destiny: I really enjoyed it. All of the characters are amazing. I’m really interested to see more of their journeys and see them grow. I loved that this episode focused on Claire but I hope they alternate which characters are focused on each episode if it becomes a series.

Lena: I LOVE this backdoor pilot! I LOVE the premise of Wayward Sisters. Absolutely, yes! It should become a series. This is such a brilliant opportunity to expand the world of Supernatural and keeps its legacy alive. Furthermore, we have these awesome characters with carefully-crafted and established backstories which are so refreshing to behold! They truly delivered! Since I’m still high on Wayward glee, I really can’t think of anything to change before it becomes a series. Please, carry on my wayward sons and daughters!

Linda: Yes, Wayward Sisters should become a series. The backdoor pilot was very well acted and written and showed what everyone is capable of and what they can do. These characters are amazing and deserve more screen time. They should get their own series and if it doesn’t end up happening they should at least get more time in Supernatural. I wouldn’t really change anything before it becomes a series. I do really hope it becomes a series.

Lindsay: I dig it. It’s a fresh yet familiar spin on the premise of the “mothership” show, with a cast of characters we mostly already know – that’s where the other attempted spinoff failed, since we didn’t know or care about any of the characters that were introduced. I hope it gets picked up – and I’d love to see Dean, Sam, and Cas make cameos when they aren’t busy with their own show. Team Free Will meets Wayward? Hell yes.

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Final Verdict: After multiple attempts to create a successful backdoor pilot for a spin-off series, Supernatural has finally found a winning premise with Wayward Sisters

The Supernatural producers/writers and The CW have been trying to create a spin-off for years. There have been multiple attempts and so far none have gone beyond the pilot stage. Bloodlines, a backdoor pilot from season nine, was largely negatively received due to all of the characters being completely original and not having any real investment from viewers. If we fast-forward to Wayward Sisters, the situation is the exact opposite. All of the main characters have been previously introduced and are well-developed. The premise itself is similar to Supernatural but not so similar that it feels like a retread. One of the most important differences is its all-female cast. Supernatural has historically had a male cast for most of its run.

The action sequences, the dialogue, the quieter moments, Donna’s cheerfulness, and the usage of known characters gave the episode a familiar and comfortable feel. Every character fit into the larger Supernatural family with ease because they were already part of it. Kathryn Newton ended up taking the lead as Claire in this particular episode but we’re hopeful that other characters will take center stage at other points. Even if Claire acted as our introduction to the proposed show, all of the characters were able to contribute and show off what they’re capable of. Overall, the episode had just the right amount of action and drama be highly entertaining.

Not all of the wayward sisters made it out of the episode alive. Unfortunately, Kaia gave her life to save Claire after Patience thought she saw her die in a vision of the Bad Place. If this is truly the end of the Kaia we know, then her death currently feels premature. It was highly effective in the context of the episode and it’s clear that her death will be haunting Claire for a long while yet, especially given who came through the other rift. At the same time, it feels like a huge waste to not explore that version of the character some more.

It’s currently unknown if Wayward Sisters will be ordered by The CW to become a series. Given the enormous amount of potential for the characters/premise and how well-done this backdoor pilot was, it would seem downright foolish not to order this show as soon as possible. We can’t wait to see what happens next for the wayward sisters, whether that ends up being in a spin-off or in the main series itself! Or better yet, both!

SUPERNATURAL returns next THURSDAY, JANUARY 25th at 8/7c on THE CW.